Maintenance support system, maintenance support apparatus and maintenance support method

Abstract

A maintenance support system include includes: a first storage unit which stores first specification information indicating a specification of a process control system which performs control of an industrial process implemented in a plant; an actual condition information extraction unit configured to extract actual condition information indicating an actual condition for the process control system; and a first comparison unit configured to output first information indicating a result of comparing the first specification information stored in the first storage unit with the actual condition information extracted by the extraction unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a maintenance support system, a maintenance support apparatus and a maintenance support method which support maintenance of a process control system built in a plant, a factory or the like.[0003]Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-191351, filed on Aug. 31, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]Conventionally, a process control system for controlling various state amounts (e.g., pressure, temperature, and flow amount) in an industrial process is built in a plant, a factory or the like (hereinafter collectively referred to simply as a “plant”), and advanced automatic operation is implemented. In this process control system, a site device (a measuring device or a manipulation device) generally called a field device, and a controller which controls the site device are connected through a communication means. The ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for easily extracting and comparing actual condition information with the specification of a process control system, and automatically presenting the difference between them. This makes it easier and more efficient to perform maintenance of the system, especially when it is operated for a long period of time and components are frequently changed.

Problems solved by technology

However, an actual condition (actual configuration or actual settings) of the process control system may not necessarily conform to the contents of the specification but may deviate from the contents of the specification.

This is because there is a case in which communication is not sufficiently performed between the system engineer performing a task of changing the contents of the specification and the site engineer performing the task according to the contents of the specification (or a case in which it is unnecessary to sufficiently perform the communication).

Here, even when the actual condition for the process control system deviates slightly from the contents of the specification, the process control system works normally, and problems are considered to rarely occur if components are not changed.

However, when flexible operation is performed for a long period of time and a change in components is frequently performed, a difference between the actual condition for the process control system and the contents of the specification is considered to gradually increase.

Further, in a process control system whose operation is performed for a long period of time, an engineer involved in maintenance may be changed.

When the actual condition for the process control system cannot be recognized from the contents of the specification, it is necessary to perform a confirmation task for confirming the actual condition, and a maintenance task takes much time.

Further, when remodeling or updating of the process control system is performed, there may be a difference between a situation and the contents of the specification and accordingly it is necessary to perform the above confirmation task prior to the remodeling or updating.

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